It looks like the pieces are starting to fall into place for Connacht, writes John O’Sullivan.
Connacht got back to winning ways on Saturday last with a morale boosting 18-3 win over Italian side Treviso. The game, which was played in torrential wind and rain, was dominated by Connacht as they looked for their first league win since September. The win stopped Connacht's sequence of losses and, vitally, the Westerners go into the break with an important victory.
The weather conditions weren't conducive for free flowing attacking rugby, meaning Connacht's pack took all the plaudits, particularly the consistent Mike McCarthy and former Leinster player Nathan White. Once again, though, former Scottish international fly half Dan Parks was Connacht's creator in chief.
Indeed, the 34 year old added eight points to Connacht's tally of eighteen and had a hand in Connacht's opening try-scored by the debutant Danie Poolman. Parks,who unlike last season's in situ fly halves, O'Connor and Nikora, plays with his head up and has several assists already this season. Prior to his arrival at Connacht, Parks was regarded as a kicking fly half and many questioned his ability to link the play. This, however, couldn't be further from the truth. The Australian born fly half plays with a swagger and, invariably, makes the right passes at the right time. Last season, Connacht's fly halves Niall O'Connor and Miah Nikora were predictable in their play, choosing almost exclusively to launch aimless Garryowens and play the percentages, thus Dan Parks has brought a new dimension to Connacht's play.
In Saturday's game, his intelligent grubber kick caused mayhem in Treviso's defence with Robbie Henshaw fly hacking the ball into the path of Poolman who had the easy job of collecting the ball and falling over the line. It was the ideal start to his Connacht career for the former Stormers winger/centre. Parks miraculously added the conversion from the most acute of angles to give Connacht a 13-0 lead, supplementing his two earlier penalties.
Much of the pre match talk centred around the debutant Danie Poolman, but it was the return of captain Gavin Duffy that was most significant for Connacht. The Mayo man made an instant impression, scoring soon after being introduced. John Muldoon intelligently made space for Duffy, who hit the gap with momentum and squeezed in over the line close to the corner. Parks couldn't replicate his earlier kick, but it didn't matter as Connacht's eighteen points was enough to seal a comfortable win.
The return of Gavin Duffy gives Eric Elwood a selection headache. Does the Mervue man keep his faith in impressive youngster Robbie Henshaw or does he choose Duffy.
If I were Eric Elwood, I would pick both Duffy and Henshaw. As we saw against Ospreys, the youngster can adequately play centre and, on paper, at least, he and David McSharry seem an ideal centre partnership: McSharry has the power and abrasive qualites, whilst Henshaw has the guile and pace. Also, due his experience at full back, he would offer Connacht a solid kicking option in the midfield.
It seems, finally, that Connacht have the depth in the squad to maintain both a domestic and European onslaught.
I’m John O’Sullivan, 20. Part time student, full time sports nut. Love rugby and am currently the PRO of Connemara RFC. I also do some radio work for my local station. One day, I would love to be a Sports Journalist/Broadcaster.
